Local produce???

[Silversky]

I've been assigned to cook a two course meal using local produce, I live in the west midlands area, near solihull and Coventry. The only very local produce I have is Berkswell Cheese, and I have no Idea what to do with it. Does anyone know what other local produce there is in the west Midlands? (except for curry!)

Thanks, XKatX

[nickmo]

At the risk of sounding patronising, I presume the instruction was locally sourced ingredients - not what is indigenious to the West Midlands per se.

Berkswell is a smooth ewes milk cheese that, like pecorino, will melt well, so add to potato dishes - gratin, dauphinoise, etc, use as a cheesey topping to spinach or veggie dishes, or just chunks of it on nice warm bread with a few pints of beer and pickles. Recipes at a makers website here: http://www.sheepscheese.com/

Go to your local farmers' market. In West Midlands, you have one at Bearswood; 2 in Birmingham (New St. & Moseley Green); Kings Norton. Dudley; Hagley; Halesowen, Shirley; Solihull; Stourbridge; Sutton Coldfield and Wolverhampton. A further list inc. days of opening can be got off www.thefoody.com (click the link, go to f/mkts and choose your region.) for closeby areas as well as the above. Or go to www.farmersmarket.net for the National Association site.

The Foody site will also give you an idea of some farm shops nearby. There have been a number of surveys and research efforts to identify background of the 'food desertification' of the West Midlands - especially as apart from the Vale of Evesham - for asparagus - it is difficult to name 'local' indigenious foods or even breeds of livestock. DEFRA and a host of local authorities have put out papers on this and they all basiclaly say 'go to the farmers' market',

So, have a good shop and enjoy the shopping. You will find that by and large the prices are less than supermarkets anyway, so it will be a cheap shop as well.

[harper]

Hi.Your query takes me back to the good old days of A-level Housecraft..plan,cook and serve !

How about Hereford beef for main course? You'll get extra marks if you produce a half decent Yorkshire pudding.If you don't fancy that, how about boeuf en croute? Have you ever tried making faggots (don't forget the mushy peas) which uses local meat and is traditional to the West Midlands.

You can't get more local than apples and pears from Worcestershire.

Good luck

By coincidence, a cousin lives in Berkswell and her friend produces the cheese! It is gorgeous.